Shawntoreah Turk posts nation's best time, men and women track both take second at Eastern Michigan

Shawntoreah Turk ran the nation's best time in the 500-meter as men and women's track and field started its season with a second-place finish at Eastern Michigan on Dec. 7.

The junior broke a 27-year-old Bowen Fieldhouse record with her time of 1:13.55, which was the best time in the nation to start the season.

“I was surprised that I came out on top," Turk said. "It felt really good; I was really excited, and I’m very proud of it."

Turk was also part of the 4x400 relay team that also took first at the meet, helping the Chippewas to 92 points and a second-place finish.

Along with Turk’s sprinting successes was freshman Shaya Wilkerson. In her first competition at the collegiate level, she brought home a victory in the triple jump with a mark of 38-03.5 Along with the triumphs at triple jump, CMU excelled in the high jump competition as well.

Juniors Samantha Stein and Megan Heffner, along with freshman Marsielle McBeam, achieved a height of 5-05 on their way to a second-place tie.

The men also finished second on the day with 90 points led by senior thrower Alex Rose, who won the shot put and took second in the weight toss.

“For an athlete like that to come in and do what he did shows a lot of promise for the season,” said track and field director Willie Randolph. “We had some solid performances, and that's exactly what we wanted in this opening meet.”

The Chippewas also had strong performances from their underclassmen, including sophomore Dee Smith, who won the men’s long jump with a career-best height of 23-00.75.

Finishing in second was freshman Craig Mauldin, jumping 21-06.75 and also taking third in the triple jump, while freshman Matt Mueller took second in his first collegiate high jump for CMU with a mark of 6-05.75.

“It’s good to see our younger classmen being able to step up early in the season,” Randolph said. “Now it’s about maintaining over the Christmas break.”

After not being in action for the last month, the Chippewas take the track next at the CMU Open starting at 4 p.m. Friday.